Terror Infinity - Side B

Chapter 13, HxH Greed Island

Day 27/90 of Greed Island.

Early morning after sunrise.

Masadora

Also known as the "Magic City" is a city on Greed Island. It has a fantasy-themed appearance. The building are very color and vibrant, and large jellyfish floats hover about the city’s skies.

Masadora is the only city on Greed Island where players can buy Spell Cards and nowhere else. With 10,000 Jenny one can buy 3 random spell cards in the spell card shop. Many players who have given up on the game come to this city to look for a "Leap/Leave" Spell Card to get off of the island. Taking advantage of that, Gon and Killua were able to exchange some of their Leap cards for some Designated Pocket Cards.

Connor: "...Why do these jellyfish float?"

Shin: "Umm... well, you can't question nonsense like this in magic and fantasy stories like Hunter X Hunter. If you start questioning everything that you see and think ‘Why?’ you'll go insane. Especially in HxH."

Jin: "That's right Connor. You should just enjoy all of this... you're a kid after all."

Connor: "..."

Shuai: "Hey, what about the guys who are still-"

Shin: "Just ignore them for now, Shuai. If they attack us inside the city it is to our advantage and not theirs. We'll see how they react once we leave Masadora and use a Spell Card to immediately return to Antokiba. We'll stay till late afternoon here in the city and acquire Spell Cards while we're at it. If they let us go then we were only just temporary prey they could do with or without. If they still follow us after waiting so long in Masadora, then it'll show that they are not your average player killers. If they have no intention of letting us go... we'll cut them down as we make our way to the next city."

With that said I lead everyone deeper into the city of Masadora. Our designation was the city's Spell Card shop, so we didn't bother with the various quests to gain cards as we asked a Greed Island NPC for directions. We went straight there and entered the Spell Card Shop. We had plenty of Jenny Cards between us so we could over a hundred Spell Card packs, but if our luck was good we wouldn't need to.

Shin: "You know what to do Jin?"

Jin: "Of course! Leave it to me! The best gamers are also the best cheats as well, even without cheat codes.

Shuai: "I'm worried."

Connor: "..."

There was a problematic rule for us concerning Spell Cards. The rules stated that we could only open the three card packs outside the store for the whole world to see. All four of us were all very much aware that the Spell Card Shop was being vigilantly watched by multiple eyes of predators.

Hostile Nen Users of various clans.

If they see that we acquired any rare or halfway decent Spell Cards well be marked by the clans keeping watch of the Spell Card shop. Also, not opening the card packs and leaving right away draws too much attention as well. They could kill us for the card packs and if they have a luck increasing item on hand like "Risky Dice", they could acquire rare Spell Cards with ease.

We were all aware of the risk involved with buying Spell Cards, yet we had a plan as we walked out of the Spell Card shop. Jin, holding the ten packages of Spell Cards, opened them without any hesitation. After the first pack was opened Jin looked startled and swiftly opened the other nine packages. Everyone could see that with each new one opened Jin's face grew more and more solemn.

Jin: "Aww, man! What trashy cards! We spent all of our money and look!! All "List" Spell Cards!!! Our, our weeks of doing part time jobs for small change... it's all gone!"

G.I Player A: "Hahahah!!! The moron used all of his money and just got packs of "List"! I always thought that such a thing was an urban legend!"

G.I Player B: "How unlucky! If he was going to waste his money we should have stolen his Jenny Cards instead. Wait, he's still placing those worthless Cards in his Free Pocket!"

G.I Player C: "Hey, we should still check to see if he's telling the truth."

The man who said that approached Jin to offer fake advice about guaranteeing success the next time he buys Spell Card packs and glance at his (Connor's) Binder. The man slimed through the Free Pocket and found that there were indeed thirty copies of "List" occupying 30 of the 45 free spots of the Binder.

The man couldn't hold back his laughter seeing as Jin didn't have a single good card to his name. The man informed the others, even the men of other clans about the funny matter and they all laughed together... never bothering to use a Spell Card to check the contents of anyone else's Binders as Shin, Jin, Shuai, and Connor walked away in shame.

Once they were sure they were in the clear Shin couldn't help but laugh as he took out his Binder and flipped an already pre-owned "List" Spell Card.

Shin: "Hahaha! Playing the fool worked like a charm! It really suits you Jin."

Jin: "Thank you. I'm used to playing the undesirable roles. I'm trash, but they are worse off for not bothering to use a Spell Card on you Shin."

Shuai: "But it's understandable though. You didn't use a Spell Card, so no one would expect you were disguising your Cards."

Jin: "Still, this is a world where the ‘anything ability’ called Nen exist. Someone should always be on alert for a little bit of magic... like so. Illusion Shroud!"

Connor had opened up his Binder back to the Free Slot Spaces and Jin moved his hand to hover over the Cards. From there a veil of mist scattered forth from the cards within, revealing their true form. What was once thirty copies of the worthless "List" Spell Card were now a variety of thirty Spell Cards.

Seven "Accompany".

Six "Magnetic Force".

Eight "Contact".

Four "Clone".

Four "Blackout Curtain".

And lastly, a very rare "God's Eye".

Illusion Shroud.

This was the result of one of two magic spells that Jin has in his possession. A low level D tier magic to create illusions. Jin couldn't make grand illusions like those created by the Vongola Famiglia Mist Guardian, but for staying invisible to the eye for a short time or for creating simple disguises, Jin's Illusion Shroud magic spell got the job done.

Shin: "Hahahaha! Jin, Connor, and Shuai! Lady luck and the heart of the cards were on our side today! We have gained all the cards that we need to survive Greed Island. Especially the very rare "God's Eye" which is important if we want to keep the option open of acquiring all the Designated Pocket Cards!"

Shuai: "Should we have bought more cards then?"

Jin: "No. Just ten packs was enough. If they assumed that we had the Jenny Cards to pay for dozens of Spell Card Packs they would have robbed us the first chance that they saw. Remember, Binders record the names of every person that you've ever encountered on the island. We can't avoid this, so we have to maintain the image that we're trash just barely getting by and failing when it counts."

Shin: "I agree with Jin. We’re going to be staying in the city for a while, so let's not draw too much attention to ourselves. Still, we should make the most of this time. Jin go around town and learn as much about the social structure of Masadora and information about Bomber. Shuai go with him. Connor, watch and make sure those two don't get into any trouble."

Shuai: "What will you do?"

Shin: "I'll get in contact with Aqua and the others and inform them of the situation. We originally planned immediately return to Antokiba, but I'm worried about our pursuers."

Having said so I split off from the group and walked around Masadora alone. After a half hour of walking and, finding that no one was following me, I stepped into a local park. Only Greed Island NPCs were around, so I felt safe for the moment. I took out my Communicator Phone and called for my redheaded war goddess Aqua to update her of what has transpired.

I told her that in the early hours after midnight, Shuai realized that a group Nen Users were followed them.

According to Shuai, they were invisible and completely undetectable from visual perception as his ghosts were unable to see them following us. It was a warning from his Earth Elemental Gnome that alerted him as to what was going on. Gnome hidden underground, like a master Earthbender from Avatar, felt through the vibrations of the ground, showing that a small group was trailing them and were invisible.

Shuai then conveyed this to Jin, Connor, and I. We were surprised that someone could so effectively stay out of our surveillances and our sharp senses unnoticed. I was reminded of the Chimera Ant Meleoron's Hatsu Perfect Plan, who had the ability to stay invisible or completely outside a person's senses. It was scary to think about what would have happened if they attacked us... but, like I feared, this was what Nen was. The dangerous ‘anything ability’ that can kill you if you meet the wrong Nen User.

After the warning that we were being followed, we all proceed with caution as we prepared to be attacked... yet in the end, our pursuers didn't attack us. Last time Shuai checked, after we had entered the city, they were waiting for us 500 meters outside Masadora.

Shin: "That's what happened."

Aqua: "I see. We definitely have to be grateful for Shuai’s presence. Without him you wouldn't have any idea of an enemy tailing you."

Shin: "Yeah, but it would have worked out if you were with us, Aqua. It seems like it's only our visual perception that is being blocked. If it was you, with your Werewolf Bloodline and Wolverine Genetic Mutation you would have realized we're being tailed the moment they started."

Aqua: "Then maybe I should have come along on your boy's outing."

Wait. Is she mad that I didn't invite her? That's... kind of cute.

Shin: "I would prefer a walk through a beautiful island like Greed Island with just you, but... the sentiment counts. Maybe later we can-"

Aqua: "Enough foolishness, leader. What will you do from here out?"

Shin: "For now I'm considering heading to a new city or town for us and then coming back for you and everyone else with a Spell Card. I have to wait for what Jin and the others find out, but, from what I've found, Masadora has too much conflict for my liking. I don't believe anyone was following me in the city, but I know that if any of the players knew I had rare cards on me they would lynch me in the middle of the street."

Aqua: "It's that bad, huh? Who knows what would have happened to us if we had decided to play this game like everyone else."

Shin: "Just two things. We would have collected all of the cards early on in one large battle... or been picked off one by one by the larger clans on the island. I do feel that we are a bit too passive for my liking, but we made our decision to fight like this. Bomber is our highest priority. Staying out of trouble is our second."

Aqua: "You know the second is impossible for you, right? Just look at you now! You're being followed by dangerous Nen Users who have the patience follow a target for hours, maybe days if needed, before they strike... just try to stay alive. If you need to just returned to Antokiba with a Spell Card. If you don't want to waste a valuable card, don't worry. We can always steal some from players the next chance that we get."

Shin: "I have no intention of potentially bringing back my troubles if they use Spell Cards to follow us, but I understand. I'll do my best to not die out here like a beaten dog and I'll keep the others alive as well. Hey, how about once find a new city to live in we rent a place just for ourselves? It feels like a good step in our relationship. You, me, and Hikari under one roof as a happy-"

Aqua: "..."

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Shin: "I can't believe that she hung up on me! Why is my first wife-to-be so shy?"

Shuai: "You have another women you call a second wife-to-be as well."

Shin: "...Really? It can't be that."

Connor: "..."

Shin: "Why are you staring at me without an ounce of respect in your eyes?"

Connor: "..."

Jin: "Now, now. It's time we leave Masadora since we have the Spell Cards that we need to return to Prize City Antokiba. We're ready to depart when you are leader."

Shin: "I see. Good. Now then... it's off to a new city where we'll be staying for the remainder of the mission. Onward to The City of Love, Aiai!"

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Authors Note:

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Proofread by Hoebagger

Short chapter, but a big battle is coming up in two more chapters!